CWT Responsible Business Report 2012 - Carlson Wagonlit Travel

ContentsChapter 8 - Glossary2012 Responsible Business Report -CHAPTER 8CGlossaryDGIKNORSUCarbon Footprint1] A carbon footprint, orcorporate greenhouse gas(GHG) inventory, is an accounting ofa company’s operational emissions.The most common GHG is carbondioxide (CO 2), which is whygreenhouse gases are often referredto as “carbon”, however there aresix different GHGs that make up anorganization’s carbon footprint;2] A Carbon Footprint is a measureof the impact human activities (e.g.,individuals, organizations or regions)have on the environment in termsof the amount of greenhousegases produced, measured in unitsof carbon dioxide (CO 2) or carbondioxide equivalent (to account forthe global warming potential).Carbon Neutral“Carbon Neutral” and “Climate Neutral”.Companies can compensate for CO 2emissions by offsetting. By compensating100 percent of their emissions,they can claim to be “carbon neutral”.By offsetting not only CO 2emissionsbut also the climate impactof other greenhouse gases, an organizationcan make itself “climate neutral.”Carbon OffsettingA carbon offset is a reduction inor sequestration of emissions ofcarbon dioxide or other greenhousegases, made in order to compensatefor or to offset an emission madeelsewhere. Carbon offsets are usuallymeasured in tonnes of carbon dioxideequivalent (tCO 2e), a measure usedto compare the impact of greenhousegases based on their global warmingpotential (GWP). Carbon offsets arederived from projects such as treeplantingor renewable energy, etc.Corporate Greenhouse Gas(GHG) InventorySee Carbon Footprint.Corporate Social ResponsibilityCorporate Social Responsibility(CSR) is often used as a synonymfor sustainability programs oforganizations. Companies committhemselves to be good citizens withprinciples around environmental,social, ethical and other dimensionsof sustainability.Corporate SustainabilityA company’s delivery of longtermvalue in financial, social,environmental and ethical terms.In UN Global Compact definition, itcovers all principles and issue areasof the Global Compact. The terms“corporate sustainability”, “corporateresponsibility” and “sustainability” areused interchangeably.DefraSee United Kingdom Departmentfor Environment, Foodand Rural Affairs (Defra).Due DiligenceComprehensive, proactive processto identify the actual and potentialnegative social, environmentaland economic impacts of anorganization’s decisions andactivities over the entire life cycle of aproject or organizational activity, withthe aim of avoiding and mitigatingnegative impacts.Duty of CareA requirement that a person acttoward others and the public withwatchfulness, attention, cautionand prudence that a reasonableperson in the circumstances would.If a person’s actions do not meetthis standard of care, then the actsare considered negligent, and anydamages resulting may be claimedin a lawsuit for negligence.Greenhouse Gas (GHG)ProtocolThe Greenhouse GasProtocol (GHG Protocol), a decadelongpartnership between theWorld Resources Institute (WRI)and the World Business Councilfor Sustainable Development(WBCSD), is the most widely usedinternational accounting tool forgovernment and business leaders tounderstand, quantify, and managegreenhouse gas emissions. Officialwebsite: www.ghgprotocol.orgGreenhouse GasesGases that cause climate change.The gases covered under the KyotoProtocol are carbon dioxide (CO 2),methane (CH4), nitrous oxide(N20), hydro fluorocarbon (HFCs),per fluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulfurhexafluoride (SF6). See CarbonFootprint.Global CompactSee United Nations Global Compact(UNGC).Copyright © 2013 CWT87